Subsurface Airflow Induced by Natural Forcings

Subsurface airflow can be induced by natural processes,such as atmospheric or barometric pressure changes, water table fluctuations,topographic effects,and rainfall infiltration．Barometric pressure fluctuations are the most common cause of subsurface airflow,which can be significant under favourable geological conditions．This process has been studied most extensively because of its application to passive soil vapor extraction．Soil airflow induced by water table fluctuations can be significant,particularly where the fluctuations are of high frequency,for example,in tidal-influenced coastal areas．Top-ographic effects can lead to strong subsoil airflow in areas with great elevation differences．Rainfall infiltration usually produces only weak airflow.Air flow induced by these natural processes has important environmental and engineering implications．Among the different processes,airflow induced by tidal fluctuations has been studied the least,although it has exciting applications to coastal engineering projects and environmental remediation．     

Marine Stone Columns to Prevent Earthquake Induced Soil Liquefaction

With ports and other near shore structures expanding, and regions previously not considered prone to earthquakes being re-classified after recent earthquake events, ground improvement by stone columns is increasingly considered to improve loose or soft in situ soils. The Dry Bottom Feed Stone Column construction technique can be used under water if a double-lock stone delivery system is attached to the vibroprobe. The use of pneumatic stone transport from the barge into the vibroprobe receiver tank makes it possible to reach large water and treatment depths. Digital recording of all relevant operation parameters provides a very high level of quality assurance, including a diameter-over-depth profile for each stone column. An introduction to earthquake-resistant design of stone columns and guidelines for specifying Marine Stone Columns are given.     

快速加固吹填土的室内模拟试验

吹填造陆是解决沿海地区建设用地不足的主要方法之一。为了使吹填土在较短的时间内获得较好的加固效果,结合吹填土特殊工程地质性质和加固过程中强度增长具有阶段性的特点,提出了边吹填边加固的加固思路。在该思路的指导下进行室内模拟试验。试验发现不同加固阶段吹填土强度增长表现出明显的分带性;与竖向排水体距离小于25 cm的土体强度增长较快;随着加固时间的延长,待加固土体强度整体增长;当持续真空加荷一个月时,部分待加固土体承载力已达到80 kPa。可以看出,强度增长与外部荷载的大小、渗透路径的长短、附加应力的大小密切相关。分阶段加固的方法在一定程度上抑制了泥皮的形成,缩短了真空加荷时间,节约工期,有利于吹填土的加固。     

Asymmetric Blasting: A Rock Mass Dependent Blast Design Method

Blasting has been the most frequently used method for rock breakage since black powder was first used to fragment rocks, more than two hundred years ago. This paper is an attempt to reassess standard design techniques used in blasting by providing an alternative approach to blast design. The new approach has been termed asymmetric blasting. Based on providing real time rock recognition through the capacity of measurement while drilling (MWD) techniques, asymmetric blasting is an approach to deal with rock properties as they occur in nature, i.e., randomly and asymmetrically spatially distributed. It is well accepted that performance of basic mining operations, such as excavation and crushing rely on a broken rock mass which has been pre conditioned by the blast. By pre-conditioned we mean well fragmented, sufficiently loose and with adequate muckpile profile. These muckpile characteristics affect loading and hauling [1]. The influence of blasting does not end there. Under the Mine to Mill paradigm, blasting has a significant leverage on downstream operations such as crushing and milling. There is a body of evidence that blasting affects mineral liberation [2]. Thus, the importance of blasting has increased from simply fragmenting and loosing the rock mass, to a broader role that encompasses many aspects of mining, which affects the cost of the end product. A new approach is proposed in this paper which facilitates this trend 'to treat non-homogeneous media (rock mass) in a non-homogeneous manner (an asymmetrical pattern) in order to achieve an optimal result (in terms of muckpile size distribution).' It is postulated there are no logical reasons (besides the current lack of means to infer rock mass properties in the blind zones of the bench and onsite precedents) for drilling a regular blast pattern over a rock mass that is inherently heterogeneous. Real and theoretical examples of such a method are presented.     

Blast Induced Damage and Dynamic Behaviour of Hangingwalls in Bench Stoping

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive monitoring program designed to investigate the extent of blast induced damage experienced by rock masses extracted by bench stoping methods. An array of triaxial geophones and extensometers were used to monitor blast vibration attenuation and measure hangingwall deformations during stope extraction. In addition, pre and post surveys of the hangingwall rock mass were conducted using a TV borehole camera and cavity survey instrumentation. These surveys were later used to calibrate damage profiles into the stope hangingwalls.

Peak particle velocity, hangingwall deformation measurements and stope surveys were used to develop a site specific damage model that allowed engineers to asses drilling and blasting configurations to minimise the extent of pre-conditioning and damage. In addition the study included the analysis of the frequency response, displacements and accelerations experienced by the excavation as extraction and mine filling progressed. This work aimed at improving our understanding of the influence of blasting on the dynamic behaviour of stope hangingwalls.

The study demonstrated that estimates of the maximum extent of rock mass pre-conditioning and/or damage made through the application of the Holmberg-Persson approach compared well with measured results. In addition, the study found that dynamic loading imparted on an exposed hangingwall from subsequent stope blasting was also expected to contribute to rock mass weakening and that mine filling was crucial to arrest further deterioration. Hangingwall accelerations were used to demonstrate that larger openings may be more susceptible to dynamic loading.     

Desiccation Induced Shrinkage of Compacted Lateritic Soil Treated with Blast Furnace Slag

A reddish brown lateritic soil treated with up to 15% blast furnace slag was compacted with three compactive efforts, (standard Proctor, West African Standard and modified Proctor) with moulding water contents ranging between 10 and 20% of weight of dry mixture. Compacted samples were extruded and allowed to dry in the laboratory for 30 days with measurements taken every 5 days to monitor volumetric changes due to drying. Four specimens compacted on the wet side of optimum using standard proctor effort; at the various slag treatments after 10 days of drying were subjected to four cycles of drying and three cycles of wetting. The results obtained showed that the changes in mass and volumetric shrinkage were rapid within the first 5 days of drying. These changes were proportional to the moulding water contents and were unaffected by the compactive effort. The volumetric shrinkage strain increased with increasing moulding water content and compactive efforts. As the water content relative to the optimum increased towards the wet side, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased and it decreased towards the dry side. For all compaction energies, the initial degree of saturation increased and regardless of the slag content, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased. As the slag content increased, the initial degree of saturation at which the permissible 4% volumetric shrinkage occurred increased. Slag content had marginal effects on the volumetric shrinkage strain as no clear trend was established. For each slag treatment the volumetric shrinkage strain did not vary significantly with increasing number of drying cycles.     

Laboratory Investigation into the Effects of Silty Fines on Liquefaction Susceptibility of Chlef (Algeria) Sandy Soils

In a number of recent case studies, the liquefaction of silty sands has been reported. To investigate the undrained shear and deformation behaviour of Chlef sand–silt mixtures, a series of monotonic and stress-controlled cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on sand encountered at the site. The aim of this laboratory investigation is to study the influence of silt contents, expressed by means of the equivalent void ratio on undrained residual shear strength of loose, medium dense and dense sand–silt mixtures under monotonic loading and liquefaction potential under cyclic loading. After an earthquake event, the prediction of the post-liquefaction strength is becoming a challenging task in order to ensure the stability of different types of earth structures. Thus, the choice of the appropriate undrained residual shear strength of silty sandy soils that are prone to liquefaction to be used in engineering practice design should be established. To achieve this, a series of undrained triaxial tests were conducted on reconstituted saturated silty sand samples with different fines contents ranging from 0 to 40 %. In all tests, the confining pressure was held constant at 100 kPa. From the experimental results obtained, it is clear that the global void ratio cannot be used as a state parameter and may not characterize the actual behaviour of the soil as well. The equivalent void ratio expressing the fine particles participation in soil strength is then introduced. A linear relationship between the undrained shear residual shear strength and the equivalent void ratio has been obtained for the studied range of the fines contents. Cyclic test results confirm that the increase in the equivalent void ratio and the fines content accelerates the liquefaction phenomenon for the studied stress ratio and the liquefaction resistance decreases with the increase in either the equivalent void ratio or the loading amplitude level. These cyclic tests results confirm the obtained monotonic tests results.     

Liquefaction of unstable slopes

Two liquefaction effects are described here which account for the fluidization phenomena observed in the collapse of water-saturated sloped-embankments. A surface erosion effect is a process in which the top layer of a submerged embankment liquefies. The subsequent reconstitution is a gradual process for which the time dependence is calculated. Internal liquefaction takes place suddenly and a criterion is derived to describe its onset. It is shown that the process is associated with the change from loading to unloading of an external shearing loaded on top of the slope and that there is no stable elastic unloading process.     

Liquefaction characteristics of silts

Summary The paper presents a summary of the results of cyclical triaxial load testing of samples of silt and silty sands. The paper emphasizes differences in behaviour observed between reconstituted triaxial samples of clean sand, of sand containing 10, 20, 30 and 60% silt, pure silt, and undisturbed samples of silt and silty sand. An important observation is that the mechanisms of deformation for sit are different for reconstituted and undisturbed samples, the undisturbed sample having a specific geological structure which seems to slow down the excess pore water pressure accumulation, but which still results in cyclic deformations regularly increasing from the very beginning of the test and rapidly reaching high levels. The other important observation is that fine-grained noncohesive soils such as silts and silty sands can be as, or even more, susceptible to liquefaction as clean sands. Test results on samples of sand containing 10, 20 or 30% of silt indicate lesser resistance to liquefaction than pure sand samples. The paper shows the difficulty in identifying a representative parameter to compare the behaviour of silts and silty sands with pure sand, and it seems that more research will be needed in this area.     

The BLAST-CODE model - A Computer-Aided Bench Blast Design and Simulation System

Blast design is a critical factor dominating fragmentation and cost of actual bench blasts. However, due to the varying nature of rock properties and geology as well as free surface conditions, reliable theoretic formulae are still unavailable at present and in most cases blast design is carried out by personal experience. As an effort to find a more scientific and reliable tool for blast design, a computer-aided bench blast design and simulation system, the BLAST-CODE model, is developed for Shuichang surface mine, Mining Industry Company of the Capital Iron and Steel Corporation Beijing. The BLAST-CODE model consists of a database representing geological and topographical conditions of the mine and the modules Frag + and Disp + for blast design and prediction of resultant fragmentation and displacement of rock mass. The two modules are established in accordance with cratering theory qualitatively and modified quantitatively by regression of the data collected from 85 bench blasting practices conducted in 3 mines of the Shuichang surface mine. Blasting parameters are selected based upon quantitative and comprehensive evaluation on the effect of the factors such as rock properties, geology, free surface conditions and detonation characteristics of the explosive products in use. In order to ensure practicality and reliability of the system, the BLAST-CODE model allows automatic adjustment to the selected parameters such as burden B and spacing S as well as explosive charge amount Q of any blasthole under irregular topographic and/or varying blastability conditions of the rock mass to be blasted. Simulation of the BLAST-CODE model includes prediction of fragmentation and displacement that are demonstrated in terms of swell factor, characteristic rock size x c and size distribution coefficient n by Rossin-Ramler's equation, and 3-dimentional muck pile profile. The BLAST-CODE model also permits interactive parameter selection based on comparison of the predicted fragmentation and displacement as well as the cost for drilling, explosives, and accessories until the most effective option can be selected.     

基于ABAQUS仿真分析的高填粗粒土路基边坡稳定性研究

高填方粘性土边坡的稳定性以往研究较多,为了研究变形特性与强度都不同于粘性土的高填方粗粒土边坡,运用ABAQUS软件,采用强度折减法对多级加筋粗粒土边坡工程做了有限元数值模拟,分析了整个边坡的稳定性.研究结果表明,加筋不仅提高了各个台阶的局部稳定性,也加强了边坡的整体稳定;边坡中都存在水平位移,最大值出现在边坡底部坡脚附近,在坡脚处出现小部分沿x轴正向的负位移;水平位移随着填土高度的增加而减小,第一台阶的水平位移最大;越靠近边坡,土工格栅和土体的位移均越大,变大的趋势近似一致,但土体的水平位移明显大于土工格栅的水平位移.     

Response of Strata and Buildings to Blast Induced Vibrations in the Presence and Absence of a Tunnel

Blast induced vibrations form an inevitable and major part of modern day construction. The changes that happen to the strata or buildings surrounding the blast are evident in a fraction of a second. Effect of damage is more pronounced in the absence/presence of the tunnel. The vibration produced due to blast may be induced due to a deep underground explosion, a surface explosion or even an in-tunnel explosion. In this study the above three situations are numerically modeled by a Distinct Element software 3DEC (3.0). Soil properties are varied representing soft and stiff strata. Further, three velocity time histories of 2, 45 and 85 Hz are used as an input in the model and are applied at three different boundaries of the model. Results of the analysis reveal that the response of building in softer strata and lower frequencies led to greater magnification of velocities and displacements compared to response of buildings in stiff strata. Presence of the tunnel led to reduction of peak velocity (PV’s) and displacements at the building top due to damping effect. PV’s at the top floor were greater than the PV’s at the bottom floor and there was an upliftment of the soil mass at the ground level. However, the upliftment in the presence of the building was lower than the upliftment in the absence of the building. Stress in the tunnel lining increased in the presence of the building, however percentage reduction of stress depends on the number of building stories.     

Particle Flow Simulation of Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of Cracked Rock Mass

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - In order to study the anisotropy caused by crack propagation and evolution of rock mass, a particle flow model reflecting the anisotropic mechanical...     

荣县危岩崩塌发育的控制诱发因素及易发分区

荣县处于四川盆地南部低山丘陵区,境内广泛出露砂泥岩互层地层,其北部处于威远穹窿背斜轴部。该县适宜的地质环境及丰富的降水,导致危岩崩塌比较发育,并严重威胁着当地群众的生命和财产安全。根据危岩崩塌发育控制诱发因素,将县域划分为1个危岩崩塌高易发区、3个中易发区和3个低易发区。县域北部双古至墨林一带具有适宜的地质环境条件及降水条件,加之人类工程活动强烈,成为危岩崩塌高易发区。     

苏北盆地浅钻沉积物磁化率与粒度记录的末次冰消期以来的环境变化

通过对苏北盆地YZ浅钻沉积物磁化率和粒度指标的分析,揭示了区域气候环境的变化过程和特征。研究结果表明,16.7～13.5 cal kaBP气候相对温暖湿润;13.5～11.2 cal kaBP为一个较为显著的冷干期;11.2~1.1 cal kaBP为一整体气候相对稳定期,以温暖湿润为特征;另外,还记录到了多次的气候波动事件,其中较为显著的为YD事件和发生于3.0 cal kaBP的气候事件。研究结果与中国西南贵州董歌洞石笋和格陵兰GRIP冰芯等记录有着较好的对比,但在细节上存在着一定的差异,这反映了研究区的气候环境变化具有自身的区域性特征,同时也反应了与全球气候变化的一致性。     

填土边坡稳定性的可靠度分析

为了系统地建立填土边坡稳定性的可靠度分析方法, 首先, 在可靠度分析原理的基础上, 对填土边坡的不确定性进行了讨论; 然后, 建立了多变量影响下填土边坡可靠度分析的基本流程; 最后, 以广西平乐县二塘锰矿区典型填土边坡为例, 基于GeoStudio软件, 应用所提出的分析流程对典型填土边坡的可靠度指标进行了计算, 通过"安全概率"对边坡的安全性进行了评价.研究结果表明: (1)填土边坡的不确定性包括内部结构和环境因素两方面, 前者不确定因素来自于填土土体不确定性和边坡的几何特征不确定性, 后者不确定性因素来自于降雨、地震和人工加载等; (2)可靠度分析的基本流程为填土边坡系统不确定性分析、建立可靠度极限状态方程、求解可靠度指标和边坡安全性评价; (3)广西平乐二塘锰矿填土边坡敏感性因素排序为: 内摩擦角Φ＞黏聚力C＞车辆荷载F; (4)考虑50年一遇极值降雨过程, 稳定性系数在降雨12 h达到最小, 其可靠度指标(β)为8.79, 破坏概率为0.根据《滑坡防治工程设计与施工技术规范》所规定的安全系数, 填土边坡的安全概率为69.84%.      

Groundwater Behaviour in Layered Slope Rock Mass And Finite Element Simulation

The paper deals with the relatively weak permeable layer in a layered structure of a slope rock mass and itseffect on groundwater behaviour in the rock mass. When the whole groundwater table is declined in such typeof slope rock mass, the permeability of the relatively weak permeable layer in the middle will be several timeslower than that of the upper and lower permeable layers and consequently the water level in layers of differentpermeability will fall in different rates which will lead to a discontinuous phenomenon of the water body. Amethod of finite element simulation on a vertical two-dimensional profile is suggested for the study of the phe-nomenon and its application to practical situation is described. The calculation result shows that the existingweak permeable layer in a layered slope rock mass exerts unnegligible influence on the variation of water levelin the rock mass of a slope. The result also proves the applicability of the finite element simulation method.